Bishop Daniil, vicar of the Tallinn Diocese of the Estonian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate (EOC-MP), has voiced concerns about the potential impact of a new law that prohibits religious organizations in Estonia from maintaining ties with foreign governing bodies. He stressed that the state cannot dictate ecclesiastical decisions, as freedom of religion is guaranteed by the Estonian Constitution.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs has suggested that EOC-MP parishes merge with the Estonian Apostolic Orthodox Church under the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. However, Bishop Daniil firmly opposed any change in canonical jurisdiction under external pressure. "Jurisdiction cannot be altered due to the opinion of an individual. It has never happened, and it never will," he told Delfi Estonia.

Bishop Daniil also criticized the principle of collective guilt, arguing that dissolving a religious organization through legal means contradicts the principles of a rule-of-law state. "We operate within Estonian law and demand freedom of religion. The Church must have the right to decide its own fate," he stated.

Vladimir Legoyda, head of the Synodal Department for Church-Society Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate, also condemned the Estonian authorities for pressuring EOC-MP to sever ties with Moscow. He emphasized that such government actions require thorough legal scrutiny.

"These troubling tendencies have never been a secret to us. We view Estonia's measures as unlawful, but a full legal assessment is necessary. Media portrayals do not always reflect reality. The law must be examined in its original language—Estonian," Legoyda told TASS.

The Estonian government argues that the law targets organizations with ties to foreign entities deemed a threat to national security or supportive of military aggression. This includes EOC-MP, prompting Interior Minister Lauri Läänemets to suggest integration with the Constantinopolitan Orthodox Church as an alternative to closure.

However, EOC-MP clergy and faithful see this as a violation of religious freedom.

The abbess of Pyhtitsa Convent, Igumenia Filareta, has sent a letter to Parliament urging lawmakers to reconsider the proposal, fearing that it could lead to the monastery’s closure. The Interior Ministry clarified that liquidation would only occur if the Church refuses to sever ties with Moscow.